The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-04-08
United in Two Hours.

delving among the arcniVeS vi VIZ
Pennsylvania House OF Representa-
tives after traces OF an old committee
report, came across adocument which
possesses romatic interest and re
calls somewhat exciting incident
social life at the State capital in 1866
which never got into print, and wa
known to but limited circle ut TIN
time. The document is the orlglna
House bill No. 2, of the Legislative
session OF 1866 the introduction
OF which at the first session
at which the House was full,
organized was the first act in the lesis
lative career OF Matthew S. Quay, nov
State Treasurer and United State
Senator elect twas q bill to divorc
Mary Wilson Mcconnell from her hus
band, Henry Floyd Mcconnell. Mrs
Mcconnell was the young and hand
some daughter OF the then Gov
Curtin, and thereby hangs the 70
nance OF this story. Through the e
forts OF Mr.. Quay and Senator Lowry
OF the Crawford district, this divorc
bill, without going to committee
passed both houses OF the Legislator
IN less than two hours. This was ol
January 10, 1866.
Miss Mary Wilson Curtin had jus
budded into her teens when her lathe
was elected Governor OF Pennsylvania
and was u schoolgirl when she cam
TO Harrisburg to live at the executiy
mansion. She was sprightly, good
natured and had charming manners
By the year Of 1865 she had grown t.
be one OF the nandsomest and mos
entertaining and most sought after @
ali the buds in society here and Il
Philadelphia, where she was WEI
known and is still remembered as I
belle. One evening at an entertain
ment at the Governors mansion sh
met young Capt. Henry Lloyd McCon
nell, dashing officer OF the army, wh'
was taken i'll during the recep
ton and was kindly taken car
of by the Governors family
This led to frequent meet
ings between Miss Curtin and youn
Mcconnell, who was u iine-lookin.
fellow, but OF no particular socia
status, and would not have been lis
tened to by the Governor rs a sulto'
for the hand OF his daughter. Bur
Cupid and the Captains shoulder
straps played havoc with the youn
lady's heart. The result was tina
one afternoon n pair OF timid lover
APPEARED in the office OF old esquire
Mclaughlin and asked to be married
The young lady was yelled. Th
Justice did not dream that she wa
the Governors daughter, whom N
knew by sight Us one OF the pretty
girls of the town. He readily agreed
to perform the ceremony. His litth
nephew, who was present, wit
messed the marriage certificate
The young lady gave her mann
MS Miss Mary Wilson Curtin, with
strong accent upon the last syllable
The old Squire and his nephew arr
both dead, but there is still u livinl
witness to this ceremony in Harris
burg-William Mclaughlin, the Jus
tees son, who was home from thu
war on q furlough, and happened tt
be in the office at the time. Capt
Mcconnell" said Mr.. Mclaughlin II
relating the story oil the marriage
twas very handsome fellow; but !!
guess that's about all there was II
him."
The Captain walked down the street
to the Executive Mansion and left his
bride at the door, going to IN!
own quarters, presumably to LEI
the storm blow over. But the storm
never did blow over. The Governor
rs was to have been expected, was
In a towering rage when he was told
by his daughter what she had done
The young lady was hurried of to G
boarding-school and out OF reach, anC
negotiations were begun with the hus
band to get him out OF the way ~
well. Gov. Curtin's political powera
that time was greatar probably than
that of any man in the State, anc
means were found to induce heyoun.
and daring Captain to leave the Stat
and make no claims upon his wife, WING
he was told had repented OF her mar
riage and didn't care to see him any
more. In few days the Captain left
Harrisburg and was lost sight of hy
his friends here. He subsequently be
came n United States Marshal in tht
West, where he now lives.